The National Small Business Association (NSBA) and Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Baltimore sections of the IEEE will be holding a forum entitled "The Overhaul of U.S. Patent Law" on August 30, 2011 from 1:00 to 4:30 pm (ET) at the University of California Washington Center, 1608 Rhode Island Avenue, NW in Washington, DC.  Note: The forum was originally scheduled for August 29, but has been postponed due to Hurricane Irene.  Forum speakers and panelists will address the effects of statutory changes in the patent law on the courts, large and small firm patenting, investments in new inventions and new domestic science and engineering jobs creation prospects for U.S. professionals.  Other forum panelists will address the regulatory changes required to implement the new law, the prospects of U.S. Patent Office access to its user fees, and the Office's ability to handle the increasing workload and new tasks necessitated by the new law.  The forum will be moderated by Chris Katopis, former USPTO Director of Congressional Relations.  Speakers and panelists include:

• Paul Michel, Chief Judge (retired), The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Pinchus Laufer, Office of Patent Legal Administration, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
• John Duffy, University of Virginia School of Law
• Valerie Gaydos, Angel investor, Angel Venture Forum
• Ron Hira, Rochester Institute of Technology, co-author of "Outsourcing America"
• Ron Katznelson, Entrepreneur-inventor and President of Bi-Level Technologies
• Lisa Kuuttila, President & CEO, STC.UNM, at the University of New Mexico
• Henry Nothhaft, Serial Entrepreneur and Author of "Great Again"
• Herbert Schwartz, Patent litigator and author of "Patent Law and Practice"

There is no admission fee for the forum, but those interesting in attending should register at the forum webpage by August 29, 2011.  The forum will also be webcast, and can be viewed here.